The Lone Ranger...is he a superhero? Yay or Nay?

[enyawd72]

I think all the early guys are superheroes for all the reasons stated...great discussion though and points from everybody!

[kingdom warrior]

^^^^^^ I think there is no wrong answer, If you think they are superheros they are if you don't they're not. It's all how you see them as.

[Brazoo]

I do like hearing the points people are making - and I think a lot of great points have been made -

But don't you guys think that the superhero genre is a sub-genre of science fiction? Doesn't a "superhero" usually need a sci-fi element to qualify? I mean, I think if you polled people to name superheroes it would be extremely rare for someone to name a character who didn't fit that. No?

To me Lone Ranger is still the same as Tarzan, or Philip Marlowe, or Indiana Jones, or Cleopatra Jones, or James Bond, or Detective Martin Riggs - action heroes, but not superheroes.

[PNGwynne]

Science fiction, and fantasy, yes.

But James Bond is fantastic (at least Connery was), & so is Indiana Jones. If popular steam-punk elements creep into Lone Ranger/Zorro adventures, so are they IMO.

I try to remember, too, that "superhero" is a general genre/marketing term, but here we're discussing it in a narrow, defined sense.

I'm pretty sure Marvel & DC would consider Black Widow & the western-themed Vigilante, respectively, as some of their "super-heroes."

[Nostalgiabuff]

absolutely he is a superhero. he does super extraordinary things, wears a costume, has a sidekick and a secret identity and fights crime.

[Nostalgiabuff]

and I also knew about the connection to GH. same creator for both

[madmarva]

I do like hearing the points people are making - and I think a lot of great points have been made -

But don't you guys think that the superhero genre is a sub-genre of science fiction? Doesn't a "superhero" usually need a sci-fi element to qualify? I mean, I think if you polled people to name superheroes it would be extremely rare for someone to name a character who didn't fit that. No?

To me Lone Ranger is still the same as Tarzan, or Philip Marlowe, or Indiana Jones, or Cleopatra Jones, or James Bond, or Detective Martin Riggs - action heroes, but not superheroes.

Your point is valid, but I think most would consider Batman a super hero and he's no more super than any of those mentioned.

I would distinguish between Marlowe, Indy, Riggs and Bond because while they do heroic and to varying degrees fantastic things in the line of duty, they are being paid for their efforts and while they may or may not be considered good men, they aren't exactly altruistic like Batman, the Lone Ranger or even Tarzan, who help and defend without expecting payment.

[ubermanx]

SUPER
Pronunciation: \ˈsü-pər\
Function: adjective
Etymology: super-
Date: 1842

1 a : of high grade or quality b —used as a generalized term of approval <a super cook> 2 : very large or powerful <a super atomic bomb> 3 : exhibiting the characteristics of its type to an extreme or excessive degree <super secrecy>

HERO
Pronunciation: \ˈhir-(ˌ)ō\
Function: noun
Inflected Form(s): plural he·roes
Etymology: Latin heros, from Greek hērōs
Date: 14th century

1 a : a mythological or legendary figure often of divine descent with great strength or ability b : an warrior c : a man admired for his achievements and qualities d : one who shows great courage 2 a : the male character in a literary or dramatic work b : the central figure in an event, period, or movement 3 plural usually he·ros : submarine 2 4 : an object of extreme admiration and : idol

So I argue that a super hero is not exclusive to someone that fire lazers out his eyes or can talk to fish.

Batman and Green Arrow are both "a man admired for his achievements and qualities exhibiting the characteristics of its type to an extreme or excessive degree". It is bull that anyone can be Batman. My eyesight (ie glasses) and asthma would prevent me from being the super athlete Batman is, the super shot Green Arrow is or a super swordsman like Zorro.

The Lone Ranger is indeed "one who shows great courage of high grade or quality".

A fireman is a hero, a volunteer is a hero, Batman, Zorro and the Lone Ranger are superheroes.

- Marty

[Gorn Captain]

I think superhero requires something "super", but it isn't easy to quantify just at what level an ability becomes "super".
Batman has trained his body and mind to a high degree, so technically I wouldn't call him a superhero, even if that sounds harsh. But maybe his acts (as the hero that he is) let him transcend his "mere human self" into someone who is "super"?
Same thing for Lone Ranger. He is a hero in my book, not a superhero. Maybe his shooting skills are way above average, true.
But if we take that as a standard for identifying "super", then someone with a photographic memory is "super" as well. Was Goldfinger in James Bond a supervillain? I mean, he did extraordinary things. Was he just very clever, or "super"?

[PNGwynne]

When you have billions, you have the luxury of being altruistic. I prefer action hero or crime fighter for the non super heroes.

Or, supremely selfish and exploitive--like Lex Luthor.

[Falstaff13]

This is a great discussion and one I've considered before. Years ago, I got the Super-Hero Photo Guidebook, and it defined superheroes for its purposes as a) having special powers beyond normal humans, b) wearing a costume, c) both a & b. Through that definition, the Doctor of Doctor Who was included (some mental powers, superior intellect, ability to regenerate) as were figures mentioned already in this thread, such as the Lone Ranger and Zorro (the costume factor). That definition always made sense to me for the book, and that does mean there are some other masked gunmen out there (such as a few Three Mesquiteers b-movies with Bob Livingston, the serial Lone Ranger, made to cash in on his success), and I recently discovered a low-grade pirate film with a masked swordsman who would also qualify.

I'd count Lone Ranger a proto-super hero, modified only because the character predates the naming of that term.

[johnnystorm]

I consider The Lone Ranger (&Tonto) to be superheroes. They operate outside the system, wear a recognizable costume or outfit (well, up until that weird bird hat thing), fight crime and villains, have an iconic mode of transportation, and have above normal abilities. In the Ranger's case, those abilities include uncanny aim, fighting skills, strategy & planning. These also extend to Tonto.
That being said, I do not include all heroes that fall under these categories to be considered superheroes. Roy Rogers, Gene Autry, or James West are heroes, not superheroes. I think its a close call that mainly involves an aura or personality as percieved by the general public. If you ask the general joe on the street the Ranger is a superhero. Then ask the same question about Roy Rogers.
The Lone Ranger is a larger than life character that exists on a higher level of heroism. He does above normal feats, and this includes other "nonpowered" super heroes like Tarzan, Batman, the Phantom etc.

[jreinhardt]

Does it matter really? Tonto and The Lone Ranger are great characters that are beloved and have/had a line of comic books, were on the radio, television and the big screen.

Compared to the new stuff the original whether or not heroes are awesome. Johnny Depp ruined Tonto in my eyes, and the crow face paint and crow hat were comical at best.

[Capt_Kirk]

He's a hero but, not a "Super" hero. In my opinion he's classified with Tarzan, Phantom and Green Hornet. I guess technically, Green Arrow and Batman aren't Super hero's either. But, they are EXTREMELY cool.

[torgospizza]

I think he is. If he's not, then neither are the Phantom and the Punisher. Basically, they're all tough guys with guns and costumes.